title: Pre-emptive effect of dexamethasone and methylprednisolone on pain, swelling, and trismus after third molar surgery: a split-mouth randomized triple-blind clinical trial.
abstract: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of dexamethasone 8 mg and methylprednisolone 40 mg for the control of pain, swelling, and trismus following the extraction of impacted third molars. Sixteen healthy patients with a mean age of 20.3 (standard deviation 1.25) years received a single oral dose of either drug 1 h prior to each surgical procedure (left and right teeth). At 24, 48, and 72 h and 7 days following surgery, swelling was determined using linear measurements on the face and trismus was determined by maximal mouth opening. Postoperative pain was self-recorded by the patients using a visual analogue scale at 8-h intervals for a period of 72 h. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and the Wilcoxon, and paired t tests (P < 0.05). Dexamethasone controlled swelling better than methylprednisolone at all postoperative evaluations (P < 0.02) and led to greater mouth opening 48 h after surgery (P = 0.029). No statistically significant difference was found between drugs with regard to pain. In conclusion, pre-emptive dexamethasone 8 mg demonstrated better control of swelling and limited mouth opening in comparison to methylprednisolone 40 mg, with no differences between drugs regarding pain control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Federal University of Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri - UFVJM, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address: cepalcantara@gmail.com.
authors.forename: C E P
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Alcântara
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Federal University of Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri - UFVJM, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: S G M
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Falci
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Federal University of Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri - UFVJM, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oliveira-Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Federal University of Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri - UFVJM, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: C R R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Federal University of Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri - UFVJM, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: M L P
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014313:Trismus / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003907:Dexamethasone; D008775:Methylprednisolone
keywords: corticosteroids; pain; swelling; third molar surgery; trismus